High regard for Times of Oman Journalists?Democratic dealing with Indian Community issues. Covert Campaign by School lobby to oust Indian Diplomat intensifies KM Indulging in Yellow Journalism?

November 29, 2002

Be more Democratic in dealing with Indian Community issues.

KM gives due to credit to the Indian community leaders who have worked hard to set up schools and colleges for the development of education. Contrary to what is projected in your reports, KM correspondents are not claiming credit for any benefit that the ordinary parents might have gained from school fee reduction. We have very high regards to the positive role played by leading Indian businessmen like Dr.P.Mohammed Ali, the Khimji family and other Indians in various fields including education. KM feels proud that the first private medical and engineering colleges in Oman are started due to the initiative and business acumen of a Malayali businessman.

However, we beg to differ with the argument that the KG fees structure posted by the new site gives a clear picture about the Indian school fees scenario. We are producing here the fee receipt of a first standard student from one of the Indian Schools. It is an original bill, not fabricated by KM. What is the monthly tuition fee RO 24 plus RO 2 for library (Is there a library worth the name; that also for Ist Standard students); If an Indian school in Salalah can train students by charging the lowest ever fee in the Gulf, why other schools cannot apply the same fee structure? There is a great difference of RO 20 between RO 14.5 per month and RO 35 plus per month?? Why this type of wide difference in fees when the operational costs and the quality of education (as evaluated in terms of examination results) are more or less same?

 

Lowest Fees of RO 17 per month?

Was there any impact due to low fees level fixed in the Seeb Community School? Thanks to the patron's initiative, the low fees in the Seeb School created a domino effect and the neighboring schools came out with reduced fees to prevent an exodus of students. Similarly, neighbouring schools fear that 2,000 students will join the Seeb school after the building construction is over. Tenders are floated to construct a school building that can accommodate 2000 students in Seeb. If it continues to remain a community school, the net impact is anybody's guess.

Compared to the past when the fee curve was always moving up, parents will give full credit to the new patron for putting a full stop to the skyrocketing fee curve and instead starting a reverse trend for the first time in the history of Indian schools. Instead of the monthly fees going up every year without even giving prior notice to parents, they have an entirely different situation now. According to Indian School Board sources, the Molada school representatives were vehemently opposed to any fees reduction plan. However, after the new Seeb School was started with a small fee, why did they announce a fee reduction plan in a hurry? Was it to help ordinary parents or to prevent an exodus to the new school?

Dear Non Resident Indian business tycoons and community leaders, the community is not living in the stone ages. Learn some lessons from the heroic steps taken by the Oman Government to give more democratic rights to the country's citizens. India has a strong democratic tradition. The Indian Ambassador is representing our great democratic nation in a foreign land. Learn to treat the Ambassador and your fellow countrymen with due respect. Be more transparent and learn to respect the public sentiment. Treat the Indian community issues with a more democratic mindset. By filing a case against a sincere diplomat you seem to be going back to the stone ages where 'might' was 'right'!

J.R.D.Tata was the richest Indian businessman, who is well known for his philanthrophy and charity than his role as an industrialist. When he died, leading International newspaper headlines highlighted him as a philanthropist and humanist! Remember, not as a businessman alone.

Threatening Anonymous Letter send to Adarsh Madhavan, Times of Oman sometimes back in response to his report on Indian Schools.

Respect Journalists